Apparatus for stacking printed products continuously arriving from conveyor means, especially products arriving in an imbricated formation

Abstract

An apparatus for stacking printed products or the like continuously arriving from a conveyor and moving along a conveying path of travel, especially printed products arriving in an imbricated product formation, wherein there are provided a plurality of clamping elements elastically pre-biased towards one another. The clamping elements are displaceably guided through the operable zone of a driven spreader mechanism and due to the action thereof temporarily brought out of their mutual clamping position. The path of movement of the clamping elements at the region of the spreader mechanism penetrates or passes through the path of travel for the incoming or arriving printed products defined by the conveyor.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for stacking products, such as printed products or the like continuously arriving from conveyor means, especially printed products arriving in an imbricated product formation, comprising conveyor means for the infeed of th products along a predetermined path of travel, a plurality of successive clamping elements structured to be elastically pre-biased towards one another, each successive one of said clamping elements clamping one of the products of the stack which is being formed, driven spreader mmeans, said clamping elements being movable from a product clamping position into a spread position, means for movably guiding said clamping elements along a path of movement and through an operable zone of said driven spreader means for coaction therewith in order that said clamping elements are temporarily brought out of their clamping position into their spread position, the path of movement of the clamping elements at the region of the spreader means passing through the path of travel of the conveyor means for the infeed of said products and including a support means arranged following said spreader means for receiving said plurality of clamping elements with the products clamped thereat, said plurality of clamping elements and support means comprising at least one product stack storage and holding means removable from a position adjacent the operable zone following clamping of the products thereat for the storage of the clamped stack of products. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus for stacking products, such as printed products or the like continuously arriving from conveyor means, especially printed products arriving in an imbricated product formation, comprising conveyor means for the infeed of the products along a predetermined path of travel, a plurality of clamping elements structured to be elastically pre-biased towards one another, driven spreader means, said clamping elements being movable from a product clamping position into a spread position, means for movably guiding said clamping elements along a path of movement and through an operable zone of said driven spreader means for coaction therewith in order that said clamping elements are temporarily brought out of their clamping position into their spread position, the path of movement of the clamping elements at the region of the spreader means passing through the path of travel of the conveyor means for the infeed of said products, and the clamping elements are constituted by part of the elements of a lengthwise extending, multi-element spring element which is elastically expansible in the lengthwise direction thereof. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the spring element comprises wound structure having coils, parts of said coils defining said clamping elements. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the wound spring element defines an envelope surface possessing a configuration essentially corresponding to a three-sided prism. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the spreader means comprises at least one driven worm having threads at least partially extending into the path of movement of the clamping elements, said driven worm having a lengthwise extending axis which is essentially parallel to said path of movement of the clamping elements, and wherein the worm has a pitch direction of the threads thereof which is opposite to the direction of winding of the coils of the spring element. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the spring element comprises a package of leaf springs having interconnected ends. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the ends of the leaf springs are provided with slot means, the portions of the ends of each leaf spring located at one side of a slot means being connected with corresponding portions of the leaf springs neighboring said one side and the portions of the ends of the leaf spring located at the other side of a slot means being connected with the corresponding portions of the leaf springs neighboring the other side. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the leaf springs possess as intermediate portion provided with a laterally protruding clamping element provided thereat. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the spring element is subdivided into individual sections. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the means for guiding the clamping elements incorporate guide means serving for the infeed of the sections of the spring element to the spreader means, an assembly of guide rails, and means for aligning each of said guide rails with the guide means serving for the infeed of the sections of the spring element to the spreader means. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for stacking products, such as printed products or the like continuously arriving from conveyor means, especially printed products arriving in an imbricated product formation, comprising conveyor means for the infeed of the products along a predetermined path of travel, a plurality of clamping elements structured to be elastically pre-biased towards one another, driven spreader means, said clamping elements being movable from a product clamping position into a spead position, means for movably guiding said clamping elements along a path of movement and through an operable zone of said driven spreader means for coaction therewith in order that said clamping elements are temporarily brought out of their clamping position into their spread position, the path of movement of the clamping elements at the region of the spreader means passing through the path of travel of the conveyor means for the infeed of said products, said spreader means comprising at least one driven worm having threads engaging into the path of movement of the clamping elements, said driven worm having a lengthwise axis extending substantially parallel to the path of movement of the clamping elements. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for stacking products, such as printed products or the like continuously arriving from conveyor means, especially printed products arriving in an imbricated product formation, comprising conveyor means for the infeed of the products along a predetermined path of travel, a plurality of clamping elements structured to be elastically pre-biased towards one another, driven spreader means, said clamping elements being movable from a product clamping position into a spread position, means for movably guiding said clamping elements along a path of movement and through an operable zone of said driven spreader means for coaction therewith in order that said clamping elements are temporarily brought out of their clamping position into their spread position, the path of movement of the clamping elements at the region of the spreader means passing through the path of travel of the conveyor means for the infeed of said products, the means for guiding the clamping elements along said path of movement comprises guide rails positioned in alignment with one another, at least one of the guide rails being arranged upstream of the spreader means with respect to the direction of movement of the products and the remaining guide rails being arranged downstream of the spreader means with respect to the direction of movement of the products. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the clamping elements are formed by a part of the elements of a lengthwise extending, multi-element spring element which is resiliently expansible in the lengthwise direction thereof, said spring element being subdivided into individual sections, said remaining guide rails possessing a stationary rail section arranged following the spreader means and an assembly of further guide rails, and means for selectively aligning each one of said further guide rails with the stationary rail section and for again shifting such aligned guide rail out of such aligned position. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the length of the further guide rails exceeds the length of a section of the spring element holding said products. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the further guide rails are constituted by hollow rail members which partially engage about the clamping elements of the spring element. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said worm has an end confronting the clamping elements, said worm end possessing a substantially flat configuration and forming stop means for a clamping element impacting thereagainst until such impacting clamping element is engaged by the worm as a function of the rotational position thereof. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the conveyor means for the infeed of the products along said path of travel possesses two endless conveyor elements arranged at a lateral spacing from one another, said spreader means being located at the region of the spacing between said endless conveyor elements. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including stop means arranged at said path of travel of the products at the region of the spreader means, said stop means serving to define a terminal position of the products in the direction of the infeed thereof. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for stacking products, such as printed products or the like continuously arriving from conveyor means, especially printed products arriving in an imbricated product formation, comprising conveyor means for the infeed of the products along a predetermined path of travel, a plurality of clamping elements structured to be elastically pre-biased towards one another, driven spreader means, said clamping elements being movable from a product clamping position into a spread position, means for movably guiding said clamping elements along a path of movement and through an operable zone of said driven spreader means for coaction therewith in order that said clamping elements are temporarily brought out of their clamping position into their spread position, the path of movement of the clamping elements at the region of the spreader means passing through the path of travel of the conveyor means for the infeed of said products, the path of movement of the clamping elements is essentially horizontally directed at the region of the spreader means, and the conveyor means defining said path of travel for the products possesses a terminal section extending substantially vertically upwards. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the substantially vertically upwardly extending terminal section of the conveyor means embodies a conveyor channel defined by two confronting runs of enedless conveyor elements. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, including a second worm, said two worms being arranged at the same spacing from and to opposite sides of the path of movement of the clamping elements. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein both worms are left-hand worms which can be driven in the same direction of rotation. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the conveyor means for the infeed of the products along said path of travel possesses two endless conveyor elements arranged at a lateral spacing from one another, said spreader means being located at the region of the spacing between said endless conveyor elements. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, further including stop means arranged at said path of travel of the products at the region of the spreader means, said stop means serving to define a terminal position of the products in the direction of the infeed thereof. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the conveyor means for the infeed of the products along said path of travel possesses two endless conveyor elements arranged at a lateral spacing from one another, said spreader means being located at the region of the spacing between said endless conveyor elements. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, further including stop means arranged at said path of travel of the products at the region of the spreader means, said stop means serving to define a terminal position of the products in the direction of the infeed thereof. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein the conveyor means for the infeed of the products along said path of travel possesses two endless conveyor elements arranged at a lateral spacing fron one another, said spreader means being located at the region of the spacing between said endless conveyor elements. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus as defined in claim 19, further including stop means arranged at said path of travel of the products at the region of the spreader means, said stop means serving to define a terminal position of the products in the direction of the infeed thereof.